WHITTLE • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Whittle

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verb

Whittle v. t. (past & past part. whittled; pres. part. whittling)

To pare or cut off the surface of with a small knife; to cut or shape, as a piece of wood held in the hand, with a clasp knife or pocketknife.

To edge; to sharpen; to render eager or excited; esp., to excite with liquor; to inebriate. (Obs.) ""In vino veritas." When men are well whittled, their tongues run at random."

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Etymology of 'Whittle'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Whittle" Quotes from Famous Books

... and positive acts of mischief, she extorted all she required. Whosoever refused her requests speedily experienced her resentment. When she was in the fulness of her power, a rival sprang up in the person of Anne Whittle, since known by the name of Chattox, which she obtained in marriage, and this woman disputed Bess Demdike's supremacy. Each strove to injure the adherents of her rival—and terrible was the mischief they wrought. In the end, however, Mother Demdike got the upper hand. Years ...

— The Lancashire Witches - A Romance of Pendle Forest • William Harrison Ainsworth

... also recollect the boy who sat in front of you, who was the envy of all the boys in the school by being the possessor of a fine, new five-bladed jackknife, with which he used to whittle kites and whistles during recess. Ah! I see you do remember," said Halloran grimly, "and you also remember the day the ragged boy, sitting at the right of you, believing no one was looking, reached over ...

— Mischievous Maid Faynie • Laura Jean Libbey

Words linked to "Whittle" : cut, whittler, Sir Frank Whittle, aeronautical engineer, Frank Whittle, whittle away, whittle down